Nicholas Rozanski Memorial Fund

$100,000 raised in first year of campaign

In less than a year, $100,000 has been raised for the Nicholas Rozanski Memorial Fund.

The fund was created to honor Dublin resident Captain Nicholas Rozanski who died April 4, 2012 while serving with the Ohio National Guard in Afghanistan.

Rozanski, a Dublin High School graduate, is survived by his wife Jenny and two daughters.

Jenny Rozasnki created the memorial fund to help students and families in Dublin and the Ohio military community with scholarships and other grants in Nicholas's name.

"The Nick Rozanski Memorial Fund started as an idea that we would award one scholarship to a student at a Dublin high school," Jenny Rozanski said in a news release.

"We had no idea on the night of April 4th, 2012, that within the year, we would have raised more than $100,000, and would be awarding six $1,000 scholarships to Dublin high school students and children of Ohio Army National Guard soldiers," Rozanski said.

"We are so appreciative and grateful for everyone who has donated to and participated in our events," she said. "It really means a lot to our family and friends.

"Nick loved Dublin and the National Guard and we hope to continue to give back to these organizations that meant so much to Nick."

The Dublin Foundation helps with the fund and Executive Director Jenn Dring said community response has been amazing.

"They have been just phenomenal and I think community support has been overwhelming to Jenny to say the least," Dring said.

Money for the fund has been raised through individual donors and events such as a golf scramble and soccer tournament.

"The golf scramble was the most significant fundraiser," Dring said.

"Donations have come in from people across the country," she said.

"The military is a very supportive group and he's gotten to know people from across the country, so it's not just limited to the Dublin community, but the military community as well."

The memorial fund received a $10,000 grant to help organize and execute business, Dring said. Other donations came in on holidays as well.

"We saw a bump around the Fourth of July, any time people are reminded of the sacrifice Nick made," Dring said. "I don't think (Jenny) ever dreamed it would be like this."

Scholarship applications for Dublin City School students went out Feb. 1 and are due by March 1, Dring said. A similar schedule is likely for scholarships for children of Ohio National Guard members, she said.

While fundraising within the first year has been successful for the Nicholas Rozanski Memorial Fund, many of the events, such as the golf scramble, are expected to return for a second year, Dring said.

This spring, Rozanski will also be recognized as he is inducted into the Dublin City Schools Alumni Hall of Fame and when Dublin dedicates the Avery Park soccer fields in his honor.